Tyrone Shoelaces

Look out for your watches !

Walter Joyce came directly from Burnley as did Adam Blacklaw. Johnny Price was a terrific little winger, he played a few games for Burnley in the old First Division then dropped down to Stockport County. I saw him and Freddie Goodwin who also later played for Rovers playing loads of times for County and they were the mainstays of their team along with a very good goalkeeper called Alan Ogley who came from City. I was chuffed when we signed him because I knew we'd get some end product off the right wing. He was a sort of slower but tricker version of Chapman. He did well for us and eventually went back to Stockport for a season or two. I was shocked to hear that he'd taken his own life. Paul Comstive also played for both clubs as did the late, great Keith Newton.

I'm reading Cruyff's biography at the moment. He was a truly great player but he could never play in goal, his head wouldn't go between the posts.

He's not had the individuality coached out of him. He gets a free hand here. I was only thinking about this in the light of the death of Jimmy Mac the other day. Every team had a Bradley Dack then. Bryan Douglas was a smaller but much better version once he came into midfield. Burnley had Mac, Blackpool had a bloke called Pat Quinn, Bolton had Freddy Hill etc They learnt the game playing 20 a side on the local rec with jumpers for goals. You had to be nippy then or you'd get kicked to death by the big lads.

And the goalkeeper, put Raya and Dack in that team and we would have stayed up I reckon.

I bought myself a really nice " Fred Perry " track suit top a while ago. A really classy item. The main part is cream but the sleeves and top contain claret and blue. The first time I wore it my son said - " What are you doing wearing that ! " . I said " It's only a jacket ". He said " Yeah but look at the colour, don't wear that again if you're out with me ". So it's in my wardrobe out in Spain now and I only wear it out of season. Trouble is out of season in Spain it gets mad hot so really it was a waste of money.

Don't go there. I'm cringing now.

Yep, maybe we are considering a new, more fluid, way of playing without a traditional central striker. The game is evolving all the time. How many what I would call " traditional " wingers did you see in the recent World Cup. I can only think of a couple.

I'd always take an away draw. Win your home games and happy days are here again.

He looked decent playing out there. What I liked was he's prepared to run directly at players with the ball, that's always a good move, they have to stand still if you run straight for them. Then you have them where you want them, static. He's not put off by physical contact, he tries to get his head up in possession. He's a willing runner. I would have liked to have seen more " back to goal " play in the clips.

I agree with you there. I was expecting to see a player who occupied a more central role. Having said that how many young central strikers are there these days ? Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought I never saw him head the ball in a goal mouth situation once. At 6'3" he shouldn't have too many problems heading the ball.

I see, the guy who bought that club out in Spain. Oh no, I'd be on here all day !

I'm not expecting lots of goals from him, just as long as the team are scoring that'll do me.

I take it the sentence referring to " buying in Spain " isn't football related ? Now is a better time to buy in Spain. A Spanish friend of ours is an estate agent, he has hundreds of apartments for sale that have been repossessed by the banks. Some real bargains there.

We left Blackburn when I was 5 so I've spent most of my life surrounded by gobby plastic Red Rats. I'd always prefer Rovers to beat Utd rather than beat Burnley. It shuts them up for a day or two and obviously beating Utd has always meant more in terms of an achievement because for almost all my life Utd have been a much superior team than the Dingles. I suppose if we'd have stayed in Blackburn I may have felt differently. The longer they stay in this cup the more difficult they'll find playing in the Premier League. If they lose on Sunday that would be good. If they win Mourinho will be a lot nearer the door. That's also good so really it's a win win situation.

I don't think anybody for one minute doubted his determination, will to win and courage out on the pitch. It was his reputation of being the sort of guy that would cause an argument in an empty house that put people off signing him.

It's not easy to get new faces through the turnstiles but it's a lot easier than getting the people who've turned their backs on the club to return. Apart from the odd game like the end of season jamboree I would suggest we've lost at least 10,000 fans . I would also suggest that at least two thirds of that 10,000 will never return on a regular basis no matter what. That along with the massive and increasing debt is the true cost of the Chicken Chokers and the reason why I'll never forgive or forget.

I would have thought it would depend on wether he could carry on his career after the break. Some do, some don't. Years ago Doncaster had a brilliant forward called Alick Jeffrey. He broke his leg playing for England U-23's and never really recovered. He took the compensation and went over to Australia. A few years later on he came back having recovered his old form after a fashion. Before he could resign for Doncaster they/he had to pay back a lot of the insurance money.

That's one way of looking at it. My view is that it was a season too far for him. Warnock and Cardiff saw it coming.

Great time for them to play Utd. If they can't beat them now they never will.

Is he the left back who played in the youth team ? I thought he looked handy as well.

Depending on fitness and availibilty he may have to play from the start on Sunday. In an ideal world he'd come on for Graham after an hour or so but if Armstrong doesn't make it he'll have to start.

He could have been a lot better if he had have had some pace.

The Walker Trust couldn't care less as long as they got the club off their hands.

I agree, I first started watching Rugby League after I broke my leg playing football and just watching football was doing my head in. I've never played Rugby League but I've watched it for years. Season ticket holder etc. I still don't know the finer points of the game, why players do certain things, the deeper tactical side of the game. Now and again I have a chat with one of the coaches and their insights are way beyond my understanding. It definitely helps if you've played in a team at a good level.